FANS COULD BE BACK IN FOOTBALL STADIUMS THIS YEAR

EFL chiefs push to allow Cardiff City and Swansea City fans back in stadiums by September

EFL chair Rick Parry has previously warned that crowds may not be allowed back into football matches this year

Friday 12th June 2020


By Glen Williams



There is a push to allow Cardiff City and Swansea City fans back inside stadiums by September

EFL chiefs are working on plans to have fans back in stadiums by September which could see Cardiff City and Swansea City supporters roaring their team on again.



The Championship is set to return on June 20, although remaining games will be played behind closed doors, while Leagues One and Two have cut short their seasons.

And now senior club officials, medical advisers and EFL staff are working together to push for limited crowds being allowed into stadiums in September.

As previously reported, the Governments in England and Wales will have the final say on when fans can return, but the report claims there is a growing move to let supporters fill around 25 percent of a stadium’s capacity next season.

Rick Parry, the EFL chairman, has previously warned that crowds may not be allowed back into football matches this year as the UK continues to battle the Covid-19 outbreak.

The EFL and Championship clubs were yesterday urged to introduce a salary cap to end the 'unsustainable' amount of money spent chasing the Premier League dream.

Deloitte's Annual Review of Football Finance 2020 found that despite record revenues of around £785million, Championship clubs lost a combined £350million across the 2018/19 season.

Match-day revenue is also crucial for clubs in League One and Two, with the report stating the two divisions are lobbying for an answer on when crowds will be back inside grounds before they set their budgets for next season.

EFL chiefs push to allow Cardiff City and Swansea City fans back in stadiums by September

EFL chair Rick Parry has previously warned that crowds may not be allowed back into football matches this year

Friday 12th June 2020


By Glen Williams



There is a push to allow Cardiff City and Swansea City fans back inside stadiums by September

EFL chiefs are working on plans to have fans back in stadiums by September which could see Cardiff City and Swansea City supporters roaring their team on again.



The Championship is set to return on June 20, although remaining games will be played behind closed doors, while Leagues One and Two have cut short their seasons.

And now senior club officials, medical advisers and EFL staff are working together to push for limited crowds being allowed into stadiums in September.

As previously reported, the Governments in England and Wales will have the final say on when fans can return, but the report claims there is a growing move to let supporters fill around 25 percent of a stadium’s capacity next season.

Rick Parry, the EFL chairman, has previously warned that crowds may not be allowed back into football matches this year as the UK continues to battle the Covid-19 outbreak.

The EFL and Championship clubs were yesterday urged to introduce a salary cap to end the 'unsustainable' amount of money spent chasing the Premier League dream.

Deloitte's Annual Review of Football Finance 2020 found that despite record revenues of around £785million, Championship clubs lost a combined £350million across the 2018/19 season.

Match-day revenue is also crucial for clubs in League One and Two, with the report stating the two divisions are lobbying for an answer on when crowds will be back inside grounds before they set their budgets for next season.

Sad,but I can see some lower league clubs folding Annis, you?without turnstile revenue it's inevitable. Would you attend yourself Annis? Me, I'm undecided at present,am missing my footie fix like mad,but am a little concerned these mass gatherings may bring on a 2nd wave? Hope I'm well off on that thought anyway if social distancing is enforced,then crowd would be max of what 8000?

Drakeford won't even have allowed us out of our houses by September.

:lol:

Drakeford won't even have allowed us out of our houses by September.

Sad but I did laugh out loud at this.

Don't want to be negative gents

But, a barely full stadium is almost as bad as an empty one for me.

I think the season should have been ended. And next season started once the virus was completely gone or vaccine sorted.

Life is obviously more important but money to some means more.

Now is the time for the millions paid into sky/BT to be used to help all lower league clubs who are struggling.

They will be back around October

Probably with 25% capacity to start

No concourses open for refreshments to prevent people grouping together and social distancing cues for toilets.

It will probably be go straight to the seat watch game then go home

If 25%

Who gets first choice on tickets ?

Don't we have over 13 thousand season ticket holders ?

If 25%

Who gets first choice on tickets ?

Don't we have over 13 thousand season ticket holders ?

Think we had 16K last season but if you allow same house families to sit together I’m thinking we could get 16K in without a problem.

Me and my 9 year old should hopefully be ok then.

I been a season ticket holder for many a year but before the season halted I was for the first time seriously debating renewing, I was getting lacklustre at the football I was seeing.

But now after being without it, hell no I can't wait to get back, bad football or not I'm looking forward to it.

If 25%

Who gets first choice on tickets ?

Don't we have over 13 thousand season ticket holders ?

I suppose it would have to be on a rota basis. Maybe half season tickets only and are eligible every other game.

That's the only way the 2 meter rule can be applied

If they drop it to 1 meter then you would get all 16k in the ground.

Tmdont forget about non season ticket holders. I k kw a lot of people who go every week home and away but dont hold a season ticket

If 25%

Who gets first choice on tickets ?

Don't we have over 13 thousand season ticket holders ?

I suppose it would have to be on a rota basis. Maybe half season tickets only and are eligible every other game.

That's the only way the 2 meter rule can be applied

If they drop it to 1 meter then you would get all 16k in the ground.

Tmdont forget about non season ticket holders. I k kw a lot of people who go every week home and away but dont hold a season ticket

Lots of ST holders will be in same family though mate so may actually fit a few more in. I’m pretty sure by September that the 2m rule will be less come sept / Oct. my opinion.

If 25%

Who gets first choice on tickets ?

Don't we have over 13 thousand season ticket holders ?

I suppose it would have to be on a rota basis. Maybe half season tickets only and are eligible every other game.

That's the only way the 2 meter rule can be applied

If they drop it to 1 meter then you would get all 16k in the ground.

Tmdont forget about non season ticket holders. I k kw a lot of people who go every week home and away but dont hold a season ticket

Lots of ST holders will be in same family though mate so may actually fit a few more in. I’m pretty sure by September that the 2m rule will be less come sept / Oct. my opinion.

But that is totally unworkable
You are correct for places with non designated seats but in a stadium where you have a seat number given to you they are not going to restructure everything just because a family wants to sit next to one another.

It likely in the scenario that they need to reduce numbers that covers will be put over seats not able to be used . Possibly every seat will have 2 empty next to them and behind them.
They will have to use every third row with two rows in front and behind empty whilst on using every third seat in that row to comply with social distancing.

That will leave a capacity of below 10k per match including media complimentaries, possibly away fans . So season ticket holders could be down to around 7k in reality. The only way around that would be alternative matches for season ticket holders

The only way family could sit together is as a row if they can get them

Hopefully it will ever get to that situation anyway

Cannot see it happening until distancing is stopped! Simply because of the narrow access points within stadium, come halftime how do people get from stadium bowl to toilets? Be difficult to separate fans coming from different exits going to same toilets and what about end game let fans out row at a time could take quite sometime! Plus if need toilet during game would have to cross 6ins from those sitting, its more time factor that will be problem halftime is only 15mins long!! ..... maybe a way around these problems but seriously doubt it, think need far less capacity than 25% To work.

If 25%

Who gets first choice on tickets ?

Don't we have over 13 thousand season ticket holders ?

I suppose it would have to be on a rota basis. Maybe half season tickets only and are eligible every other game.

That's the only way the 2 meter rule can be applied

If they drop it to 1 meter then you would get all 16k in the ground.

Tmdont forget about non season ticket holders. I k kw a lot of people who go every week home and away but dont hold a season ticket

Lots of ST holders will be in same family though mate so may actually fit a few more in. I’m pretty sure by September that the 2m rule will be less come sept / Oct. my opinion.

But that is totally unworkable
You are correct for places with non designated seats but in a stadium where you have a seat number given to you they are not going to restructure everything just because a family wants to sit next to one another.

It likely in the scenario that they need to reduce numbers that covers will be put over seats not able to be used . Possibly every seat will have 2 empty next to them and behind them.
They will have to use every third row with two rows in front and behind empty whilst on using every third seat in that row to comply with social distancing.

That will leave a capacity of below 10k per match including media complimentaries, possibly away fans . So season ticket holders could be down to around 7k in reality. The only way around that would be alternative matches for season ticket holders

The only way family could sit together is as a row if they can get them

Hopefully it will ever get to that situation anyway

Yes, see what you mean.

Cannot see it happening until distancing is stopped! Simply because of the narrow access points within stadium, come halftime how do people get from stadium bowl to toilets? Be difficult to separate fans coming from different exits going to same toilets and what about end game let fans out row at a time could take quite sometime! Plus if need toilet during game would have to cross 6ins from those sitting, its more time factor that will be problem halftime is only 15mins long!! ..... maybe a way around these problems but seriously doubt it, think need far less capacity than 25% To work.

The access point would be easy to solve as the stadium is huge and could easily have a one way system including the stairwells and toilets with perspex to seperate.

Getting past people to go to toilet would be the big issue and short of taking the seat out in front of the one being used to use a empty isle as a access point it would be unworkable .

If there isn't a spike in infections in the next week as a result of the protests last weekend then mass gatherings in the open air can be looked at.

If there isn't a spike in infections in the next week as a result of the protests last weekend then mass gatherings in the open air can be looked at.

I'm not expecting to be in a football stadium for a year almost to the day. Hopefully the Euros Switzerland game is on and in an ideal world not in Baku. As much as I didn't like Baku in November I'm grieving the loss of the experience today that's for sure. 2016 was without doubt a life enhancing experience.

Cannot see it happening until distancing is stopped! Simply because of the narrow access points within stadium, come halftime how do people get from stadium bowl to toilets? Be difficult to separate fans coming from different exits going to same toilets and what about end game let fans out row at a time could take quite sometime! Plus if need toilet during game would have to cross 6ins from those sitting, its more time factor that will be problem halftime is only 15mins long!! ..... maybe a way around these problems but seriously doubt it, think need far less capacity than 25% To work.

The access point would be easy to solve as the stadium is huge and could easily have a one way system including the stairwells and toilets with perspex to seperate.

Getting past people to go to toilet would be the big issue and short of taking the seat out in front of the one being used to use a empty isle as a access point it would be unworkable .

Masks might up.

Cannot see it happening until distancing is stopped! Simply because of the narrow access points within stadium, come halftime how do people get from stadium bowl to toilets? Be difficult to separate fans coming from different exits going to same toilets and what about end game let fans out row at a time could take quite sometime! Plus if need toilet during game would have to cross 6ins from those sitting, its more time factor that will be problem halftime is only 15mins long!! ..... maybe a way around these problems but seriously doubt it, think need far less capacity than 25% To work.

The access point would be easy to solve as the stadium is huge and could easily have a one way system including the stairwells and toilets with perspex to seperate.

Getting past people to go to toilet would be the big issue and short of taking the seat out in front of the one being used to use a empty isle as a access point it would be unworkable .

Obviously can get around certain aspects of this but that would depend on capacity! But at halftime how do people leave seats and get to toilets and be back in 15 mins? yes can have queuing system but that is very time consuming if only 15 mins breaks, may be workable at city but not all stadiums are as accessible especially in premierleague... good if happens but just can't see being done...

Cannot see it happening until distancing is stopped! Simply because of the narrow access points within stadium, come halftime how do people get from stadium bowl to toilets? Be difficult to separate fans coming from different exits going to same toilets and what about end game let fans out row at a time could take quite sometime! Plus if need toilet during game would have to cross 6ins from those sitting, its more time factor that will be problem halftime is only 15mins long!! ..... maybe a way around these problems but seriously doubt it, think need far less capacity than 25% To work.

The access point would be easy to solve as the stadium is huge and could easily have a one way system including the stairwells and toilets with perspex to seperate.

Getting past people to go to toilet would be the big issue and short of taking the seat out in front of the one being used to use a empty isle as a access point it would be unworkable .

Obviously can get around certain aspects of this but that would depend on capacity! But at halftime how do people leave seats and get to toilets and be back in 15 mins? yes can have queuing system but that is very time consuming if only 15 mins breaks, may be workable at city but not all stadiums are as accessible especially in premierleague... good if happens but just can't see being done...

There will certainly be a lot of obstacles to overcome.
As you said possibly some stadium would not be suitable. Bournemouth and Chelsea spring to mind

Cannot see it happening until distancing is stopped! Simply because of the narrow access points within stadium, come halftime how do people get from stadium bowl to toilets? Be difficult to separate fans coming from different exits going to same toilets and what about end game let fans out row at a time could take quite sometime! Plus if need toilet during game would have to cross 6ins from those sitting, its more time factor that will be problem halftime is only 15mins long!! ..... maybe a way around these problems but seriously doubt it, think need far less capacity than 25% To work.

The access point would be easy to solve as the stadium is huge and could easily have a one way system including the stairwells and toilets with perspex to seperate.

Getting past people to go to toilet would be the big issue and short of taking the seat out in front of the one being used to use a empty isle as a access point it would be unworkable .

Masks might up.

We are spoilt at city because we have very wide concourse areas that can accommodate
some kind of distancing but majority of stadiums dont... so do certain clubs have fans and others don't?

Cannot see it happening until distancing is stopped! Simply because of the narrow access points within stadium, come halftime how do people get from stadium bowl to toilets? Be difficult to separate fans coming from different exits going to same toilets and what about end game let fans out row at a time could take quite sometime! Plus if need toilet during game would have to cross 6ins from those sitting, its more time factor that will be problem halftime is only 15mins long!! ..... maybe a way around these problems but seriously doubt it, think need far less capacity than 25% To work.

The access point would be easy to solve as the stadium is huge and could easily have a one way system including the stairwells and toilets with perspex to seperate.

Getting past people to go to toilet would be the big issue and short of taking the seat out in front of the one being used to use a empty isle as a access point it would be unworkable .

Obviously can get around certain aspects of this but that would depend on capacity! But at halftime how do people leave seats and get to toilets and be back in 15 mins? yes can have queuing system but that is very time consuming if only 15 mins breaks, may be workable at city but not all stadiums are as accessible especially in premierleague... good if happens but just can't see being done...

There will certainly be a lot of obstacles to overcome.
As you said possibly some stadium would not be suitable. Bournemouth and Chelsea spring to mind

Yes and tbh say 98% of grounds are not suitable for social distancing of any kind so wont have away fans thats for sure .

Cannot see it happening until distancing is stopped! Simply because of the narrow access points within stadium, come halftime how do people get from stadium bowl to toilets? Be difficult to separate fans coming from different exits going to same toilets and what about end game let fans out row at a time could take quite sometime! Plus if need toilet during game would have to cross 6ins from those sitting, its more time factor that will be problem halftime is only 15mins long!! ..... maybe a way around these problems but seriously doubt it, think need far less capacity than 25% To work.

The access point would be easy to solve as the stadium is huge and could easily have a one way system including the stairwells and toilets with perspex to seperate.

Getting past people to go to toilet would be the big issue and short of taking the seat out in front of the one being used to use a empty isle as a access point it would be unworkable .

Obviously can get around certain aspects of this but that would depend on capacity! But at halftime how do people leave seats and get to toilets and be back in 15 mins? yes can have queuing system but that is very time consuming if only 15 mins breaks, may be workable at city but not all stadiums are as accessible especially in premierleague... good if happens but just can't see being done...

There will certainly be a lot of obstacles to overcome.
As you said possibly some stadium would not be suitable. Bournemouth and Chelsea spring to mind

Yes and tbh say 98% of grounds are not suitable for social distancing of any kind so wont have away fans thats for sure .

This is exactly why they wanted to play at neutral venues because many of the older grounds will struggle to comply.

Playing the games off like a tournament at certain grounds was the best option imo

Cannot see it happening until distancing is stopped! Simply because of the narrow access points within stadium, come halftime how do people get from stadium bowl to toilets? Be difficult to separate fans coming from different exits going to same toilets and what about end game let fans out row at a time could take quite sometime! Plus if need toilet during game would have to cross 6ins from those sitting, its more time factor that will be problem halftime is only 15mins long!! ..... maybe a way around these problems but seriously doubt it, think need far less capacity than 25% To work.

The access point would be easy to solve as the stadium is huge and could easily have a one way system including the stairwells and toilets with perspex to seperate.

Getting past people to go to toilet would be the big issue and short of taking the seat out in front of the one being used to use a empty isle as a access point it would be unworkable .

Obviously can get around certain aspects of this but that would depend on capacity! But at halftime how do people leave seats and get to toilets and be back in 15 mins? yes can have queuing system but that is very time consuming if only 15 mins breaks, may be workable at city but not all stadiums are as accessible especially in premierleague... good if happens but just can't see being done...

There will certainly be a lot of obstacles to overcome.
As you said possibly some stadium would not be suitable. Bournemouth and Chelsea spring to mind

Yes and tbh say 98% of grounds are not suitable for social distancing of any kind so wont have away fans thats for sure .

This is exactly why they wanted to play at neutral venues because many of the older grounds will struggle to comply.

Playing the games off like a tournament at certain grounds was the best option imo

Problem is what grounds suitable? Even new ground like amex is unsuitable if away end is like main bowl.... of all grounds been to only city has space enough to have some sort of distancing but dont think even that will be suitable for authorities especially WG

:lol:

Drakeford won't even have allowed us out of our houses by September.

Sad but I did laugh out loud at this.

He has said that there will be no spectators allowed at sporting events or concerts in Wales until next year.

We could actually have the situation where we are able to watch Cardiff play away games in England (if he lifts the five mile restriction by next season which is certainly not a given) but not allowed to watch them play at home.

:lol:

Drakeford won't even have allowed us out of our houses by September.

Sad but I did laugh out loud at this.

He has said that there will be no spectators allowed at sporting events or concerts in Wales until next year.

We could actually have the situation where we are able to watch Cardiff play away games in England (if he lifts the five mile restriction by next season which is certainly not a given) but not allowed to watch them play at home.

That could lead to mega problems. Just imagine it.

:lol:

Drakeford won't even have allowed us out of our houses by September.

Sad but I did laugh out loud at this.

He has said that there will be no spectators allowed at sporting events or concerts in Wales until next year.

We could actually have the situation where we are able to watch Cardiff play away games in England (if he lifts the five mile restriction by next season which is certainly not a given) but not allowed to watch them play at home.

That could lead to mega problems. Just imagine it.

I would say fck him and encourage every one go to the ccs enough is enough of his buffonary...

Cannot see it happening until distancing is stopped! Simply because of the narrow access points within stadium, come halftime how do people get from stadium bowl to toilets? Be difficult to separate fans coming from different exits going to same toilets and what about end game let fans out row at a time could take quite sometime! Plus if need toilet during game would have to cross 6ins from those sitting, its more time factor that will be problem halftime is only 15mins long!! ..... maybe a way around these problems but seriously doubt it, think need far less capacity than 25% To work.

The access point would be easy to solve as the stadium is huge and could easily have a one way system including the stairwells and toilets with perspex to seperate.

Getting past people to go to toilet would be the big issue and short of taking the seat out in front of the one being used to use a empty isle as a access point it would be unworkable .

Obviously can get around certain aspects of this but that would depend on capacity! But at halftime how do people leave seats and get to toilets and be back in 15 mins? yes can have queuing system but that is very time consuming if only 15 mins breaks, may be workable at city but not all stadiums are as accessible especially in premierleague... good if happens but just can't see being done...

There will certainly be a lot of obstacles to overcome.
As you said possibly some stadium would not be suitable. Bournemouth and Chelsea spring to mind

Yes and tbh say 98% of grounds are not suitable for social distancing of any kind so wont have away fans thats for sure .

This is exactly why they wanted to play at neutral venues because many of the older grounds will struggle to comply.

Playing the games off like a tournament at certain grounds was the best option imo

Problem is what grounds suitable? Even new ground like amex is unsuitable if away end is like main bowl.... of all grounds been to only city has space enough to have some sort of distancing but dont think even that will be suitable for authorities especially WG

I cant see away fans being allowed until next season If I'm honest unless they travel by car only.

The premier league could easily pick 5 grounds to play the games.

Man city
Arsenal
Spurs
Are all big bowl type grounds with wide concourses

Add in Wembley , possibly other large grounds not being used like Sunderland or Twickenham.

The stadiums are there to deal with it , the logistics of getting team's safely to them is different.

It's a hard situation and massively reduced attendance seems the only way forward

Some grounds like Bournemouth may have to be closed until it's over

Cannot see it happening until distancing is stopped! Simply because of the narrow access points within stadium, come halftime how do people get from stadium bowl to toilets? Be difficult to separate fans coming from different exits going to same toilets and what about end game let fans out row at a time could take quite sometime! Plus if need toilet during game would have to cross 6ins from those sitting, its more time factor that will be problem halftime is only 15mins long!! ..... maybe a way around these problems but seriously doubt it, think need far less capacity than 25% To work.

The access point would be easy to solve as the stadium is huge and could easily have a one way system including the stairwells and toilets with perspex to seperate.

Getting past people to go to toilet would be the big issue and short of taking the seat out in front of the one being used to use a empty isle as a access point it would be unworkable .

Obviously can get around certain aspects of this but that would depend on capacity! But at halftime how do people leave seats and get to toilets and be back in 15 mins? yes can have queuing system but that is very time consuming if only 15 mins breaks, may be workable at city but not all stadiums are as accessible especially in premierleague... good if happens but just can't see being done...

There will certainly be a lot of obstacles to overcome.
As you said possibly some stadium would not be suitable. Bournemouth and Chelsea spring to mind

Yes and tbh say 98% of grounds are not suitable for social distancing of any kind so wont have away fans thats for sure .

This is exactly why they wanted to play at neutral venues because many of the older grounds will struggle to comply.

Playing the games off like a tournament at certain grounds was the best option imo

Problem is what grounds suitable? Even new ground like amex is unsuitable if away end is like main bowl.... of all grounds been to only city has space enough to have some sort of distancing but dont think even that will be suitable for authorities especially WG

I cant see away fans being allowed until next season If I'm honest unless they travel by car only.

The premier league could easily pick 5 grounds to play the games.

Man city
Arsenal
Spurs
Are all big bowl type grounds with wide concourses

Add in Wembley , possibly other large grounds not being used like Sunderland or Twickenham.

The stadiums are there to deal with it , the logistics of getting team's safely to them is different.

It's a hard situation and massively reduced attendance seems the only way forward

Some grounds like Bournemouth may have to be closed until it's over

Funny enough said grounds been to but only been Wembley of those you mentioned! But yes can play there but as say logistically its difficult , having problems playing behind closed doors never mind with fans? Just cannot see it happening and that is mega problem for large amount of clubs in championship no fans no money administration beckons I fear but not for city you hope